- Nprn: 10431
- Summary: Bethany Baptist Chapel was built in 1900 in the Simple Gothic style of the gable-entry type.
RCAHMW, September 2010 - Description: Built in 1900 (cost £1750). Present status [2002]: unknown
Name: Bethany
Address: Chapel Rd, Six Bells, Abertillery
Parish: Abertillery
Denom: Baptist
Ngr: SO22060305
Contact: Mr E Powell: 0495-213091
Date of visit: 7-3-95
General: Located next to the river Ebbw once itself used for baptisms.
S. schoolroom wing formed original chapel
Style - Gothic revival
Date - 1897
Plan - rectangular
Roof - gabled with slate covering. Hipped southern end covers S. wing.
Walling: E. S. and W. elevations - rendered rubble-stone with dressed stone quoining at returns and jambs.
W. elevation of schoolroom - (originally a gable wall) random-rubble with brick quoins.
Main façade: North gable - dressed coursed masonry with free-stone jambs and quoining.
The gable has a stone paraphet verge with a finial and features 4 stone buttresses.
The upper window openings have ogee heads in contrast to the flat-headed openings below.
There are several commemorative stones in the lower part of the façade. A foundation stone on the W. side has the name W. Catfield dated 16th Oct 1905.
There is a central five-sided porch with flat embattled roof. The main entry is in the centre of the porch and consists of double t & g ledged doors with fan-light, set in ogee-headed opening.
The porch contains 4 small windows in its frontage with flat heads and UPVC frames.
There are 4 commemorative stone plaques on the lower parts with the names: T Richards MP; R Cory Esq JP; MD Lewis; J Prichard.
There is a large ogee-headed window over the porch containing a UPVC frame in the pattern of a central cross.
East elevation - 5 small window openings on each level with segmental heads and modern T pattern timber frames.
The original chapel forms a schoolroom extension to the south the S. and W. walls once being gable ends.The walling consists of random-rubble with brick returns and jambs. The primary opening consists of a semi-circular opening with recent t & g double-doors. There is a heavilly erroded stone plaque next to the entrance.
There is a small brick toilet block at the S. end of the E. elevation with an erroded Sunday-School plaque.
S. elevation of schoolroom - rendered. 2 semi-circular headed windows.
W. elevation of schoolroom - random rubble walling with brick quoining. 2 semi-circular headed windows with modern timber frames.
W. elevation of chapel - as east elevation.
Internal:
N. entry porch - painted rendered walling and quarry-tile floor. There are 2 semi-circular headed openings leading into the main N. hallway.
Hallway - Solid floor with carpet. Textured ceiling.
The inner porch wall has a small flat-headed window in the centre with narrow margins containing stained glass without subject matter.
On each side of the window there is a panelled door with flat stopped chamfers leading into the chapel area.
There is a ballustered stair in the S-E corner of the hallway leading to the gallery. There was once a twin stair in the opposite S-W corner.
Main chapel area:
Floor - t & g boarded.
Walling - painted rendering wit t & g dado.
Roof - t & g boarding between double purlings. 5 hammer-beam roof trusses with decorative iron ties.
Pulpit - single-tier, rectangular shape, located against ply-board covered gable wall. T & g panelling with enriched cast-iron rail on pulpit surround. Small stair at each side of pulpit with ornate cast-iron balustrading. T & g dado to rear wall.
Baptismal pool - located under floor of pulpit.
Great seat - the low platform under the pulpit previously contained 4 windsor type chairs, now replaced with modern chairs. The platform has a moulded rail surround with ornate iron supports and there is a small communion table in the centre.
Organ - modern, located below pulpit. A piano is located at the E. side of the pulpit.
Vestry - there is a small glass panelled room at the W. side of the pulpit. There is a choir stall next to the vestry.
Pews - Pine, raked open bench type. Seating capacity (inc gallery) originally over 500.
A panelled door in the S. gable wall leads to the schoolroom.
Gallery - U shaped covering N. E. & W. walls. The gallery has ornate cast-iron with a moulded rail above, supported on 7 plain cast-iron pillars with moulded capitals. The pews are raked and the rear ones have been removed.
Schoolroom:
Aligned E.- W.
Walling - painted rendering with t & g dado.
Floor - t & g boarding
Roof - 3 collar-beam trusses with flat stopped chamfers. T & g boarding.
There is a small platform against the W. gable-wall where the original pulpit was located with a semi-circular headed window on each side with modern timber frames.
Seating is provided by a number of free-standing chairs.
Hallway - formed by modern ply-wood partition with ply doors into the main internal area. Part of the hall area forms a small kitchen. - Built: 1900 Source:RCCEORBWM
- Date Of Chapel: 1900 Source:
- £ 2300: 1905 (RCCEORBWM)
- 550: 1905 Sittings (RCCEORBWM)
- Chapel: 1995 ()
- Chapel: 2011 (Baptist Union Website)
- Materials
- Monument Type: CHAPEL
- Form: Documents
- Style: Simple Gothic
- Plan: Gable Entry
Key Details of this Chapel
Key Dates of this Chapel
Costs during this Chapels History
Capacities during this Chapels History
Changes of Status its History
Key Characteristics of this Chapel
Images from Coflein
Map
- Grid Reference: SO22060305
- Address: EASTVILLE ROAD, SIX BELLSAbertillery
2 thoughts on “BETHANY BAPTIST CHAPEL (SIX BELLS), EASTVILLE ROAD, SIX BELLS (SIX BELLS)”
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Hello
My great great grandparents were married in Kinnerton Chapel in Old Radnor on 21st May1850. I have been searching for information on the Chapel, so was pleased to find this website. I have now located it on Google Street View – looks like someone is ‘doing it up’ to live in: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.2612635,-3.1095337,3a,90y,232.95h,84.26t/data=!3m9!1e1!3m7!1s-8DWPORkq2RFVNXBLde_-g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!9m2!1b1!2i53?hl=en-GB
The marriage record of my ancestors Abraham Bounds and Elizabeth Williams is attached. I hope it is of interest.
All the best
Saira
Dear Sara
Thank you for the information. I am glad to hear that it was some help to you.
Good luck on your continued search
Christine